المملكة: "Healthy" It ends the chaos "Marketing": no "cash"..No trips and gifts from doctors for 500 riyals

Acknowledge Saudi Health Council A package of strict controls for the governance of the relationship between practitioners and health facilities on the one hand, and medical technology companies on the other hand, to eliminate conflicts of interest and protect treatment prescriptions from commercial influence.

The new regulation aims to restructure professional links to be based on precise scientific standards, and strip them of any marketing dimensions that may affect the quality of care provided to patients or guide medical decisions.

The Council stressed preventing the influence of diagnostic decisions or drug prescriptions. With these relationships, medical personnel are strictly prohibited from requesting or accepting any gifts or privileges that exceed the approved regulatory scope.

The new rules were imposed on Health facilitiesFormulating codified policies for visits by company representatives, requiring prior authorization, with a complete prohibition on discussing financial interests or conducting promotional visits during periods of providing care to patients.

The regulations prohibited health practitioners from requesting funding for attending medical conferences directly from companies, stipulating that attendance be subject to an official nomination from the facility’s top official to ensure the utmost levels of transparency and justice.

And in a pre-emptive step to close the outlets for corruption, the regulations prohibited members of purchasing committees. And drug listing decision makers are prohibited from accepting any financial sponsorship for events supported by companies, in order to maintain complete institutional integrity.

The controls codified the mechanisms for providing advisory and research services, obligating the parties to conclude documented contracts that include financial returns equivalent to the fair market value, while prohibiting cash dealing and requiring direct transfers through the health practitioner’s bank accounts.

The instructions required Medical personnelFull disclosure to their employers of any meetings or financial engagements that take place outside official working hours with company representatives, including the costs of dinner invitations or in-kind support.

The regulations allowed the acceptance of symbolic, non-promotional souvenirs, such as pens and scientific publications, provided that their value does not exceed one hundred riyals per visit, and with a strict financial ceiling that does not exceed five hundred riyals annually.

The controls stipulate that Preventing the use of health agency logos in events funded for the purpose of marketing without official approval, hinting at implementing deterrent regulatory penalties against establishments or practitioners who violate these rules, which represent the minimum level of transparency.